National Shame

Third Week, August

The Cardinal of Manila shed tears. He cried over the plight of the homeless in his archdiocese and the misuse of billions of pesos by members of the Congress intended for local development programs. The problems of the poor seem legions while the greed of those who plunder the public funds is indescribable.

The indignation over the senseless waste and misuse of public funds is starting to catch fire. Calls for the abolition of the pork barrel funds are snowballing. Civil society groups and the faith communities have made a stand against the continuation of the practice and appealed to the members of the Congress to be sensitive to the demand for accountability.

Congress continues to ignore the issues against the pork barrel funds. It refuses to investigate its own members for the anomaly. It claims that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) can do the job better. It insinuates that it option not to conduct any investigation is dictated by delicadeza since its members might be involved in the mess. However, the Congress misses the point.  If it had investigated other issues and scandals in the name of inquiry in aid of legislation before, why could it not conduct an inquiry involving the misuse of public funds?

Delicadeza has nothing to do with callousness and insensitivity. On the contrary, delicadeza would prompt the Congress to ask its members to go on leave while the matter is still being investigated. Delicadeza would appeal to the sensibilities of the Congress in asking for public apology for the scandal that the issue has been making. Delicadeza demands more than a general denial from members of the Congress suspected of partaking in the mess. Delicadeza calls for serious investigation and truth-telling so that all issues pertaining to the pork barrel mess could be uncovered and shown for public scrutiny. This is what delicadeza demands of the Congress. This is the call of the time. 

The tears of the Cardinal are understandable. The pork barrel scam shows the wanton disregard of public decency and morality. It embodies both personal and structural sins. It weighs on the moral fabric of the society and destroys the integrity of public service. It symbolizes the gravest abuse of power and the destruction of the future. It is greed. It is evil.

            

                The pork barrel scam is a national shame. The issue should occupy the center of public attention. Public discussions should be encouraged to inspire awareness and correction. Officials must heed the call for accountability and responsibility before the issue fuels unrest and violence. They cannot continue to ignore the issue without compounding the shame and stigma that it brings to public service.

    

            It is high time to abolish the cause of our national shame. Abolish the pork barrel funds. Abolish the scheme that gives rise to corruption. Give local government units direct access to development funds without the intervention of lawmakers and other national officials. Redeem our dignity. Do away with the pork now!